Valverde is gradually becoming one of the best midfielders in the world. See how important he is to Real

Isn’t Karim Benzema? Never mind, Real Madrid have a new goalscorer. And, somewhat surprisingly, it’s Federico Valverde. A man for the job, he runs around a huge area, wins several balls, balances them perfectly and can play just about anywhere. And now he’s scoring goals.

Valverde is the new star of Real Madrid. He is not a superstar with star-like mannerisms, but a humble, hard-working footballer who comes from a poor background and values every minute on the pitch.

The Uruguayan midfielder has already secured a place in the A-team in previous seasons, but has often paid the price for the intense competition in the centre of midfield in the form of the Casemiro – Modric – Kroos trio. However, he never complained about the lack of minutes, constantly toiling and patiently waiting for his chance. And when it came, he grabbed it by the scruff of the neck. Real brought him from Peñarol for just 5 million euros.

Change of position

He started to break into the starting line-up at the beginning of 2022, when he decided the El Clásico in the Super Cup with a goal. Casemiro was missing in the Champions League eight-final rematch against PSG, so Valverde came on in the centre of midfield and helped Real to progress with a perfect performance.

Since then, he has become indispensable for Carlo Ancelotti and the Italian coach wanted to keep him in the starting line-up at all costs. But at the same time, he didn’t want to sit anyone from the trio of Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, so he found a new position for Valverde. On the right wing.

Valverde had already tried this position under Zinedine Zidane, he also played right-back against Liverpool in the 2021 Champions League quarter-finals. His versatility also makes him so valued. And on the right wing, Valverde has really found himself.

After all, he is not a typical winger who just waits for the ball, he plays more of a fourth midfielder who helps to outnumber the midfield, but also supports the team offensively. And his returns to the defence? Every coach’s dream. Of course, for a player to play 90 minutes at that pace and fly up and down, you need an inexhaustible physical pool, and Valverde has that.

A versatile footballer

It is he who has become the engine of Real Madrid in the new season. Every team needs a player like that, someone who connects the defence with the attack, someone who doesn’t stop running all game, because with Valverde you get the feeling that Real are playing with an extra player because he is everywhere.

Even when he was a kid he had the nickname ‘El Pajarito’ (the bird) because he would fly all over the pitch. As his performances grew, Real Madrid fans renamed him “El Halcón” (the hawk).

At the same time, for all his qualities, we must not forget Valverde’s cannon shot. Towards the end of last season, he was a bit unlucky to hit the crossbar five times in a couple of consecutive games. But he knows all too well about his shot in Madrid.

“I didn’t understand that he scored only one goal last season. He’s got dynamite in his leg. I told him before the season that if he didn’t score 10 goals, I would tear up my coaching licence and quit,” Ancelotti laughed.

Shooting form

And his charge has started to listen to him. And just when Real needed it the most, because the injury to Benzema meant that the shooting burden had to be spread among several players.

Currently, he has already scored 4 goals and added 2 assists in 9 games. He scored for the first time against Celta Vigo.

At the start of the video, you can find Valverde on the bottom left, making a fair return and he’s a few yards in front of the Real goal. After starting the ball, he immediately shoots forward and even though the attack stretches across the left side, the Uruguayan doesn’t stop running. Eventually it pays off, Hazard sends a pass into the box, Benzema slips, but Valverde is behind him and clears the ball to the bar.

One of Valverde’s goal of the season candidates against Mallorca. Los Blancos were struggling with Mallorca just before half-time and were 0-1 down. Valverde took the ball in his own half, roughly between the whitewash and the halfway line. He used his speed to get rid of three opponents, ran to the whitewash where he slammed the ball with his weak left foot and cleared the crossbar.

A few days later, he excelled again. Real Madrid were playing Leipzig 0-0 at home in the Champions League, and all indications were that the match would end in a goalless draw. But in the 80th minute, Valverde got to the ball, hacked down an opponent and cleared the ball to the bar with his left foot.

And Valverde capped off a perfect week on Sunday. In his third game without Benzema, he added a third goal, this time in the derby against Atlético Madrid. Vinícius escaped alone on goal, his attempt still ended up on the bar, but Valverde closed the action from the right wing and increased Real’s lead to 2: 0. In the end, it was again the winning goal.

Valverde is slowly but surely becoming one of the best midfielders in the world. He is finally starting to get the recognition he deserves and the football world is starting to take notice.

Source: Real Madrid, Twitter